Reversal of fortune for WingStop in Masters

CANTON — Ordinarily, a team that starts out the night with 24 consecutive strikes would be the lead note for the traveling Budweiser Select Masters league.

But the WingStop team deserves some props for turning things around at Linn Lanes on Monday night.

After two miserable weeks, WingStop made a move to get out of the cellar with a convincing 34-16 decision over Linn Lanes.

Anchorman Brian Davis led the way with a 752 set, Ed McAbee added 658 and Mark Zimmerman 656. Kenny Shockency was high man for Linn with 685.

The Safari team of Paul Lippens, Bryan Opperman, Ryan Driskill and Mark Stenger all started Game 1 with six straight strikes — a team 24-bagger — in a 40-10 win over Striketown.

Lippens, who finished with a 710 series, ended the run with a split in the seventh. Opperman added 714, Driskill 684 and Stenger led the league with a 791. Striketown countered with a 720 from Bob Baker

Safari, which moved into second place, ended with a 2,899 team total, but was not high-scoring team of the night.

That went to Plaza Lanes, who rolled a 2,900 — the high series of the season so far — in a 34-16 decision over Creative Lettering.

Left-hander Mike Davis, coming off a 554 series at Sunset Lanes a week earlier, led the way with a 752, closing with 258 and 289. Pete Argo added 737, Dillard Clark 721 and team captain Gary Alstott 690.

Brett Walker led Creative with a 721, while Mark Walker and I added 690 apiece.

Kickapoo Creek Kitchen maintained its lead with a close 28-22 win over Sunset.

Steve Taylor, fresh off a fourth-place finish in a PBA regional over the weekend, led Kickapoo with a 739, Yuma Scott added 722 and Drew Johnson 680. Luke Wojton led Sunset with 711.

Firehouse also had a big night with a 2,866 team total, good enough for a 40-10 win over Subway. Eric Krause was high man for Firehouse with a 737, Gary Robinson added 731 and Lonnie Driskill 717.

Fred Sims had high games of 289 and 268 in a 787 series for Landmark n a 25-25 tie with T&D Windshield. Tony Wysinger added a 716 for Landmark.

Mike McBride led T&D, while Ted Daniels added 695.

Next Monday night the league will make its first visit to Striketown Lanes in Pekin.